The House That Chaos Built
STORY GINA MAKKAR | PHOTOGRAPHY JASON HARTOG
Featured in The Golden Horseshoe - Fall 2025
For Lina and Fady, mornings often felt like an obstacle course as they navigated life with five kids in a 1,000 sq. ft. condo in Toronto’s Liberty Village. “One morning, my husband was tripping over the kids to get out the front door and decided it was time to move,” says Lina.
The couple knew they wanted to be close to the lake, good schools, shopping and the highway. The Mineola neighbourhood in Mississauga checked all the boxes. After countless open houses failed to meet their needs, a chance turn onto a quiet, tree-lined street changed everything. They were drawn to the mature trees and charming homes, and it was there they decided that building from scratch was the only way to create a home that truly fit their family.
The multi-generational home was designed specifically with the family in mind. The pair called on Richard Kossak of New Age Design and Peter Giampuzzi of Ornella Custom Homes to bring the architectural details and home-build to life. “They wanted a home, not a house,” says Peter. “A place where their children could grow and have their parents under one roof. They did put a lot of thought into colours, flow and aesthetics, but not at the expense of functionality.”
Lina spent months inking out main-floor designs on graph paper. “I am truly thankful to Richard for making my sketches into real design plans,” she says. The family was hands-on from the start, helping with everything from construction projects to painting and cleaning. “Lina was very hands-on with the design process and did a superb job sourcing materials, working with our suppliers and pinpointing the exact vision she had for the home,” says Peter.
The exterior achieves its goal of a timeless New England aesthetic. A gabled roofline adds traditional charm. Peter notes that the home’s exterior palette of natural stone and vintage brick, sourced from Mason’s Masonry Supply Ltd., and window trim in a soft, muted hue offers a timeless contrast to the darker windows and black accents of contemporary design. A grand front door from Master Doors and expansive windows from Pella Windows & Doors provide beautiful views of the backyard at every meal. An outdoor covered patio allows the family to sit by the fire from spring to fall. “Peter also modified our plans during the building process and designed a built-in barbecue and pizza oven,” says Lina.
On the inside, after years of living in tight quarters, the homeowners had a clear vision of how to design a space that truly works for a large family. A mudroom with direct access to both the garage and side yard features individual cubbies for each child to tuck shoes and backpacks out of sight. A washer and dryer were added to the mudroom, so school and sports gear can be cleaned as soon as the kids walk through the door.
The craft room is the brainchild of Fady. What was originally intended to be a two-storey ceiling in the family room evolved into one of the home’s most inspired spaces. The loft-style space provides a desk for each child and a quiet space to focus or get creative. One of the home’s more playful features is a custom slide that goes from the main floor to the basement. “I feel like our home is unique in the sense that it is specifically designed for a large family,” says Lina. “We pride ourselves in being able to design and build a home that is timeless and elegant yet kid-friendly at the same time – meeting the needs of our five children.”
Finishes were carefully chosen for both form and function. Porcelain tiles offer the beauty of marble without the maintenance. Ash hardwood flooring was selected from AA Floors & More Ltd. to add character and maintain the casual feel. Quartz was used throughout for both durability and beauty. In the powder room, a backlit mirror creates a soft reflection in the floor-to-ceiling square marble tile. Lighting throughout is from Lando Lighting.
All custom cabinetry was executed by Magnum Millwork. “Using Magnum Millwork for all our built-in cabinetry was, by far, the best decision we made,” says Lina. Small corners often go unused, but Lina worked with Magnum Millwork to create a corner desk area that’s become the hub of the home. “This is the home of our family calendar, the drop-off area for papers and books and the charging station for all our devices.”
The home’s classic New England aesthetic is enhanced by the colonial staircase featuring traditional wood pickets and stringers by Roes Stair Corp. Floor-to-ceiling panelling and mouldings by Zain Designs add a sense of grandeur. The kitchen and great room boast soaring ceilings and exposed timber beams, creating a warm, welcoming space ideal for relaxing and entertaining. The kitchen’s 10-foot island, with counters from Premium Marble & Granite, is the focal point while complementing the white oak accents and ivory cabinetry with gleaming brass hardware. A Kohler farmhouse sink from Vatero Bath + Kitchen completes the space.
“Our home is always open to family and friends. The oversize kitchen island is great for entertaining and all the open space we have in the centre of our home is perfect for large family gatherings,” Lina says.
Every corner of the home reflects Fady and Lina’s vision for a warm, inviting space thoughtfully designed to nurture family life and lasting memories, and Peter’s hands-on approach made all the difference. “Peter was very available, responsive and considerate,” says Lina. “He reviewed every step of the build with us, had meetings with us to check on progress and went through what we should expect next.”
The finished home weaves timeless elegance with a personal touch, creating a sanctuary that Fady and Lina are proud to call their forever home. OH